About BERP

The "Balkans Enforcement Reform Project"

The aim of the "Balkans Enforcement Reform Project" (BERP) is to support the countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) in the reform of their legal system in general and more in particular ensuring a more efficient and effective functioning of the systems of enforcement law at the national and at the regional level.

The project was initiated by the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) in close collaboration with the Union Internationale des Huissiers de Justice et des Officiers Judiciaires (UIHJ). A first a comprehensive proposal was submitted to the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade, which on behalf of the Minister for Development Cooperation is responsible for the management of a regional cooperation program in the Western Balkans countries, in the spring of 2008. Based on this proposal, the Embassy invited CILC to conduct a thorough assessment of the state of play and the exact need for cooperation before deciding on a more comprehensive program. In order to do so, a team consisting of the project director Mr. Eric Vincken, the key expert Mr. Jos Uitdehaag and expert Mr. Carsten Mahnke visited all seven countries of the Western Balkans in July and August 2008. Based on these missions, the team prepared a detailed inception report and a revised project document. Based on these documents, the Netherlands Government approved the project in December 2008. On 1 January 2009 the BERP, which has a duration of 32 months, started.

In accordance with its aim, BERP will assist the relevant governmental structures, professional bodies and NGOs in the countries of the Western Balkans involved in the area of enforcement in:

• the strengthening of regional cooperation;
• the reform of primary and secondary legislation, as well as of regulations governing the profession (as e.g. disciplinary proceedings) and their harmonization with international best practices;
• the development and implementation of training strategies and programs for judicial officers (from the private and public sector) entrusted with the execution of court judgments, as well as for the officers and institutions entrusted with the supervision over enforcement procedures, including training at the regional level on topics like ethics and disciplinary issues, international aspects of enforcement, public awareness and media, quality standards and training methodology;
• the establishment and strengthening of national professional organizations in the area of enforcement law;
• the development and introduction of regional best practice manuals in areas as quality management, monitoring and control, performance measurement, transparancy of assets and cooperation with public authorities;
• the dissemination of reform efforts in the sector among the general public and the awareness raising about enforcement law related issues among other legal professionals.

The project aims to achieve its purpose through tailor-made programs in the seven countries and regional activities. These regional activities will also stimulate cooperation and exchange of experiences and information between the countries in the region. In cases where other donors are involved in the area of enforcement law, coordination with their efforts shall be ensured and whenever possible concrecte cooperation on a regional and/or country basis shall be sought. In almost all of the seven countries, BERP has already made concrete agreements with other donors active in the sector to establish so-called strategic partnerships. As excellent examples in this respect, one can name the European Union funded EURALIUS mission in Albania and the USAID funded "Judicial Reform Implementation Project" in Macedonia.